[sixteen]

Draco knew he might've overreacted a little, but that doesn't mean he wasn't still angry or jealous. Hermione's arguments turned out to be pretty valid, that he didn't have any right reason for the punch he wanted to throw at Theo's perfectly handsome face. 

"Oh you so overreacted, bro." Blaise laughed as he watched him throw another rock into the Black Lake 

"I did not. My reaction was perfectly....perfect." Draco snapped 

"Damn, you and Granger? I would not have believed it if you told me this a year ago." 

"Things change." Draco sighed, reminding him of the reason why he called his best mate out to talk in the first place "My owl brought this in this morning." 

Blaise took the opened letter with a raised brow "Your mother?" 

"Who else?" Draco rolled his eyes "Just read it." 

Blaise took his precious time reading through Narcissa's letter, and was perfectly stoic when he finished "I'm not quite sure how to react. This is your father we're talking about."

"He was vile and cruel. He deserves whatever's coming for him." Draco said coldly 

"I know, but he was-- still your father." Blaise shook his head and handed him the letter back "Are you sure you're alright?" When it came to the matters of the family, everyone in their group knew it wasn't something to joke about. All of their families have, at one point, been under the threat of the Dark Lord and it wasn't merry.

"I'm not--" Draco sighed and threw another rock into the lake. One more and the giant squid will throw it back at him 

"You know Pans and I will be there for you if you need us - and Goyle if he takes a minute to stop shagging the poor lower years." Blaise shook his head in disgust "Theo will, too, Draco, no matter how angry you are at him." 

"I know. He's a saint." Draco shook his head as he kept the letter back in his robes' pocket 

"Let us know when they finally set a date for the trial. We'll be there." Blaise said, patting Draco "In the meantime, you honestly gotta figure out how to deal with this whole Granger thing. To be honest with you, I don't even know how to help you." 

"Maybe you should ask the lady Weasley if she's got ideas." Draco elbowed Blaise 

"Oh sod off, you know Pans is the girl for me." 

"Doesn't mean you don't find the Weaslette hot." Draco rolled his eyes 

"Fine, sure, but I haven't got plans on getting my head blown off by Potter so you keep your thoughts to yourself like I do, alright?" Blaise narrowed his eyes at his best friend

"Sure." Draco laughed and pushed Blaise towards the direction of the castle "We'll be late for Charms, come on."

"Charms with Granger...or charmed Granger?" Blaise snickered and nudged Draco with his elbow "Good one, huh?" 

Draco smacked Blaise at the back of the head, earning him a glare "Now a good one." Draco snickered and stalked off into the castle 

-----

"Neville, do you mind if I sit with you?" Hermione asked as she approached her old friend, who was seated on the desk right behind Ron and Harry's

"No, not at all!" Neville grinned and pulled the chair for Hermione 

"Still having a row with Malfoy, huh?" Harry asked, causing Ron to look over 

"Yes, and no, Harry, I still wont tell you what it's about." 

"But you told Ginny!" Harry complained 

"She threatened to use her Bat-Bogey hex on me" Hermione defended 

"And you're sure I wont do the same?" Harry challenged 

"Harry, you can try, but you know I know more spells to throw back at you." Hermione smirked 

"Okay, fair game."' Harry sighed "You're sure you're okay?" 

"Yeah, are you?" Ron asked, speaking for the first time

"I am, don't worry." Hermione smiled kindly at both her best friends just as Draco entered the room laughing with Blaise and Goyle. Seeing him completely alright made Hermione annoyed. Luckily, Neville was trying to strike a conversation with her "What are we doing today, again?" he asked 

"I think we're dueling today." Hermione said as she toyed with her wand 

"Are we dueling with our...with the person next to us?" Neville asked, he didn't want to duel against Hermione. He knew he was going to lose to her. 

"I think so." Hermione nodded "Don't worry, Neville, you were spectacular during the battle. I'm sure you will be today too. I'm ready to be challenged." 

Just as Neville was going to respond to her encouragement, their DADA professor entered and immediately asked them to move the chairs aside "We'll be dueling today. Two against two. Take your pick." 

"Hey, Hermi--" Celine was just about to approach her when Draco put a hand over her mouth "Malfoy! Haven't you got any manners?" she exclaimed 

"Not today, Cel." Draco shook his head 

"They're having a lover's quarrel." Goyle snickered 

"Lovers' quarrel my arse." Draco muttered as he walked over next to Blaise as his partner

" . Theo, you and I then." Celine said with an eyeroll and grabbed Theo by the hand 

"Ron, you and I against Harry and Neville." Hermione said as she stepped back to give their little quartet some space 

"Alright." Ron grinned, seemingly happier than he was a second before "We've still got our rhythm, I'm sure." 

"Did you ever have one in the first place?" Harry smirked and shot a spell at Ron 

"Of course we did-- we do." Hermione arched a brow and tossed a hex in Harry's direction 

"Looks like our war heroes are eager to start." their professor teased, causing the entire class to look in their direction - including Draco, who was surprised to find Hermione paired up with Ron "But we haven't gone over the rules. Everyone will start at exactly the same time."

"Sorry, professor." Harry grinned 

"No problem. Now the rules are, of course, no unforgivables. Serious injuries should be immediately reported to me, and then to the hospital wing - don't worry madame Pomfrey is ready for all the injured." she grinned "Take note, you are a pair against another, but remember that there are also others fighting around you - be extra vigilant." 

"Constant vigilance." Ron nodded somberly 

"Moody." Neville shook his head 

"On my count, three, two, and" professor Yanley smirked "bow to your opponents." 

Hermione gracefully bowed to both Neville and Harry

and then chaos broke lose. 

One minute they were paying their opponents respect, and the next second several spells and hexes were flying around the room. Yanley was smart to put them in pairs, because whilst one fought against their opponent, the other made sure that they weren't about to get hit by a stray hex. Ron was currently throwing stunning spells at Harry, while Hermione did her best to defend him from the spells coming from the other side of the room.